(57h) Attentional Shift and Banner Blindness in Hazard Statements

Information processing models provide a framework around which to understand how the information contained within hazard statements is processed. An information processing model called the C-HIP model describes information processing using a series of stages that start with the source of the information and end with the behavioral response to the source. In order for information to be effectively processed at each stage, it must be processed first at the previous stage. One of the earlier stages in this model is attention. The current study seeks to identify whether the information contained within hazard statements is making it to the attention stage and if this depth of processing relates to hazard statement compliance rates. Participants will complete 16 multi-step tasks in the virtual reality simulator, Second Life. While they are completing the tasks, they will be monitored using eye tracking to see if they are attending to and complying with the hazard statements. We expect the results to show that participants are not attending to the hazard statements enough for the information to be processed effectively in the later stages of information processing. We also expect to see a positive relationship between depth of processing and hazard statement compliance rates. Whether or not the information contained in the hazard statements is making it to attention has implications on how hazard statement research will be conducted going forward as well as on the use current procedures and process safety.